Meet a City Council candidate: Sam Malone

Oct. 10, 2013

Written by

The Enquirer

Sam Malone / Provided

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Name: Sam Malone

Incumbent: No

Neighborhood: Walnut Hills

Age: 42

Education: Associateís degree from Vincennes University

Job: President and chief executive officer of Urban Strategies and Solutions Group

Family: Two children

Political experience: Cincinnati City councilman from 2003 to 2005

Party endorsed: Republican

Twitter: None

Web page: None

Facebook page: None

About: His father, a bounty hunter, was killed when Malone was an infant, and his mother worked several jobs to support the family. He grew up a troubled street fighter until meeting a Cincinnati police officer who became his boxing coach and mentor, and instilled in him a law-and-order conservatism. Heís a Navy veteran who served in the Persian Gulf in 1991.

After two unsuccessful council campaigns, Maloneís 2003 victory was widely regarded as an upset due to a shoestring budget and low name recognition. While in office, he worked to establish an anti-gang unit.

He lost his seat in 2005, finishing 10th. Six months before that election, Malone was charged with misdemeanor domestic violence for allegedly beating his then-14-year-old son with a belt. A judge acquitted him three months after the election.

Do you support or oppose Cincinnatiís streetcar and why?

I do not support the streetcar. The cityís current fiscal state would not support such a lofty goal.

I do not support the parking lease agreement. The current lease agreement wasnít presented to the public in an open and transparent fashion. Secondly, when public trust has been compromised I will not be involved. Thirdly, Iím convinced that it will hurt many residents and small business owners alike. Lastly, the terms of the agreement are not in the cityís best interest, long-term speaking.

Do you support or oppose the pension referendum?

I believe in pension reform. However, I also believe that a promise is a promise. We need to keep our word with cityís retirees. City retirees have given the city their best in good and bad times.

Would you be willing to lay off cops and firefighters?

I would not be willing to lay off cops and firefighters. Itís basic delivery of cityís core services that residents and businesses deserve.

Are you going to increase money for road paving, and where would you get the money?

I would support an increase for road paving. I would consider this a priority and basic delivery of the cityís services. We may need to reduce other items outside of basic core services.

Do we need more code inspectors and health inspectors, and where would you get the money to hire them?

I would love to see more code and health inspectors. I currently support the measure City Council has in place. I think itís still early and we need to give the current process a little more time to determine what improvements if any have impact the process. Then review and move from there.

How would you increase revenue and/or cut spending to close the cityís annual budget gap?

I would increase revenue by investing more into small businesses. This will expand out tax base through job creation and retention. I would promote and encourage a program that offers a monetary reward for city employees who come up with cost savings in their department. Secondly, I support eliminating the duplication of services with the county, state and other local government entities. Lastly, I support any changes in law that would require the city to have a balanced budget each year. ■